Calculating machine



April 7, 1925.

J. F. MAYS CALCULATING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1922 4 Sheefs-Shget 1 WM QM E Q n8 April 7, 1925. 1,532,832

J. F. MAYS CALCULATING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1922 4 Shee ts-Shee't 2 JWMM April 7,1925.

1,532,832 J. F. MAYS v CALCULATING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1922 4 Sheetg-Sheet 5 3- A A A fl J. F. MAYS CALCULATING MACHINE Filed y 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. '7, 19255.

UiTE- sr'rEs minus a. rears, or LEXINGTON, nonrn CAROLINA, Assronon or onn-rocnrn TO A. M. rrrsrnnn, or MQRGANTON, nonrn canomna, nn onnrocarn TO D. n. nnrnn, or LrNcoLN'ron, NORTH onnonmn.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

Application filed May 3,

T all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, JAMns F. Mays, a citizen or the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Davidson and State of North Carolina. have invented a new and useful Calculating Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to calculating or adding machines and the like and has for its object the simplification of the mechanism by elin'iinating many of the parts heretofore found necessary in structures otthis character. In the type of machine disclosed in prior patents issued to me, as for example No. 1 323 894 dated Dec. 2, 1919, it has been necessary to employ a group of levers for each column of keys carried by the machine, these levers serving to transmit. motion to a rock shaft controlling the actuation of the dial mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine in which a single lever can be actuated by all the keys in a single column, this lever transmitting motion through a master key to the aforesaid rock shaft.

It is another object of this invention to render more compactand elticient the construction of the escapement mechanism em'-' ployed for controlling the action of the dial. l-leretofore this mechanism has required the use of resiliently held fingers or pallets cooperating with a floating wheel in turn combined with a carry wheel as disclosed, for erample in Patent No.1,165.337 issued to me on Dec. 21, 1915. It has been found however. that the resiliently held fingers, or pallets do not give the uniformly accurate and perfect movement which is necessary in an escapement of this kind. The lack of perfeet accuracy, and rigidity under strain, is caused by he double movement of the flexible fingers. They have a movement up and down. and also forward and backward.

It is the purpose of my present invention 1922. 7 Serial no. 558,156.

alternately and are positioned for engage ment with opposed portions respectively of the floating wheel, thus to work freely and positively to insure accurate stopping of the wheel.

A further object isto provide the dial mechanism with novel control mechanism whereby the carry wheel is held securely and positively against movement between required operations thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scopeof what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a calculating machine embodying the present improvements and showing one column of keys and the dial mechanism.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the keyboard.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a portion of one of the keys.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5, Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is a: section on line 66, Figure at.

Figure 7 is a side elevation. partly in section. of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figure 4..

Figure 9 is an enlarged section on line 9 9, Figure 4, the shafts being shown in elevation.

Figure 10 is a section on line 1.0.10, ure '9.

Figure 11 is a section on line 1l--ll. Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a section on line 12l2, Figure 9 the carry wheel being shown in elevation;

Figure 13 is a section on line iii-13. Figure 4.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference il designates the casing or housloo ing of "he machine in the top of which are mounted parallel columns of keys 2 mounted for up and down in vement and each of which is provided with the usual head 3 on which a number is displayed. The numbers on the keys ol each column range from 1" to 9" so that there are nine keys in each column arranged in proper numerical succession. Each of the keys is yieldingly supported by a spring l as shown in Figure 9 and the upward movement or each key is limited by a pin engaging the top of the casing or housing while the downward movement: is ln'ni'ted by a shoulder 6 enga ing a guide strip 7.

Arranged along one side of the keys oi? each column is a lover 8 preferably fulorumed at one end as shown at 9. The lever is yieldingly supported by a spring 10 and normally bearing on the lever are pins or projections 11 extending "from the keys 2.

All oi? the keys have substantially the same length of movement when depressed but in view of the fact that the keys are located at different distances from the tulcrum of the lever 8 it will be obvious that each key will produce a different throw of the lever. For example the key nearest the free end of the lever will, when dopressed. swing the lever through a smaller arc than will the nest adjoining key while the greatest movement of the lever will be caused by the depression oi the rear key of the column.

master key is adapted to be actuated by the lever and any suitable means may be employed for transmitting motion ke I :l'rom this master to a rock shaft 13 ar ranged longitudinally within the casing or housing 1. k 1" can. be secured to the rock shaft and re- ('e. 'e motion from a rack 15 carried by the n'iaster key 12.

A swing it? serves to hold the rock shaft noru'ially in a predetermined position and secured to this rock shaft is a segmental gear 17 constantly in mesh with a gear 18 formed at one end of a sleeve 1. An annular flange 20 is provided at the other end ot the sleeve and has an arcuate slot 21. Sleeve 1!) is mounted for rotation. on a spool termed a t. one end with a flange 23 lrom which a pin 24 extends. this pin projecting through and is adapted to work within the slot '21. On the other side of the illange 23 is another pin 25 torining the tulcrum ot a pawl 26 engaging an internal ratchet 27 secured to and rotatable with a shaft 28. This shalt extends through the spool 22 and when the ratchet 2'1 -s rotated in one direction by the pawl 26 the shaft necessarily rotates therewith. A. spring 29 shown in Figure 11 serves to hold the pawl normally pressed into engagement with the ratchet 2i".

For example a segn'iental gear- An annular flange 30 is provided at the other end of the spool and tulcrunnzd on one face thereof is a spring controlled dog 81. A. slot is formed in the flange 30 and movably mounted therein is a pin 33 extending from the dog 31. Another cam slot 3-1l is formed in a disk 35 arranged in trout of flange 30 and adapted to rotate with the gear 18. Thus it will b seen that relative movement o flange 30 and disk 35 will result in outward or inward movement of the dog relative to the shalt .i toothed wheel 36 is secured to the shall; 2 and is adapted to be engaged. by the dog 31. A stop pin 37 is carried by the tlange 30 and. normally bears against a lug 38 so thus to hold the rotatable parts at the prop or starting point when. set.

The mechanism mounted on the shaft 29 and which has heretofore been descrihed does not in itself constitute any part oi? the present invention but is covered by Letters Patent heretofore issued to me. It constitutes a lost motion driving connection very essential. in machines oi this character whereby the dog 31 will be caused to engage with the toothed wheel 38 before the actuation of the slotted flange 23.

The shaft 28 extends through a sleeve 3f suitably supported, as by means of a bar all), this sleeve being held against rotation and constituting a tiriu support for the capcment mechanism. This escapement mechanism includes a carry wheel ll which, as shown in Figure l2, has peripheral recesses l2 regularly spaced. hub l3 extended laterally l'roin the center oi the wheel ll and aligns with a corr ponding hub 44 extending laterally from a drive wheel or gear This genimeshes with and is adapted to be actuated by a smaller gear to receiving motion through gears l? and 4-8 trom the shaft 523 of the next adjoining unit (it the lower order. it being iiinderstood that gears 46 and rotate in unison.

Mounted for rotation on the aligning hubs 43 and 44 is the hub 4t) ot a floating wheel 50. This wheel is provided at its periphery with oppositely extending slop projections or lugs 51 regularly spaced. the lubs on one side of the wheel being-opposite the centers of the spaces between lugs on the other side ol the wheel. staggered arrangementis shown. clearly in Figure 'lhese lugs or projections 5i divide the periphery ol the floating wheel into ten equal parts and 'lormed within the floating wheel is an arcuate slot tending loosely through this slot and adapt l to move therein through an arc oi 36 l L viii lllf-ta pin 53 projecting from one face of tin: carry wheel 41. it coned spring i l: JS attached at one end to this pin 53. is partly wrapped about the hub o1 the floating wheel tween them. pallets 59 remote from the pro}ect1ons (i0 bear againstthe peripheries of rotary cams 50, and is attached atits other end to a pin extending from the gear 45. Another, lighter spring- 56 is attached tot-he pin 53and is partly extended around the hub'of the floating-wheel- 5O and secured (31 and are held 'thereagainst by springs 62. Each cam is substantially circular for the greater portion of its circumference but has a short eccentric portion extending inwardly andtern'iinating at a radial shoulder 63. The shoulders on the two cams are oppositely disposed so that during each complete rotation of said cams the shoulders 63 will bebrought past the adjacent ends of the levers or pallets 59 respectively at regular intervals. 7 Each time a shoulder moves past one of these pallets or levers the spring 62 connected thereto will actuate the pallet or lever so as to shift the projection out ot the path of one set.

oi projections 61. Atathe same time the eccentric portion of the other cam will be moving the projection 60 of the second lever or pallet into the path of one of the projections 51 on the other side of the floating wheel. Thus it will be seen that thetwo pallets will operate alternately in properlv timed relation to release the wheel and to positively stop it atteuthe wheel has moved through one-tenth of a circle.

A gear 65 secured to th e cams 61 receives its motion through-agear 66 from the shaft 28 of the adiacent unit of the lowei order and on which the gear 48 is mounted.

The rock shaft 13 has a collar 67 provided with a peripheral projection 68 and one ar1n69 ot a bell crank 70 extends to a position where it is adapted to be engaged by the extension 68 as shown in Figures 5 and 12.

The carry wheel 41 is so located that a head 71 on the bell crank 70 will project into any one of the recesses 42 to form a stop but under normal conditions this head is held out of engagement with the carry wheel by the pressure of the projection 68 against thearm 69.

A control Wheel 73 is secured to the shaft 28 and has a series of laterally expins 81and 82.

tending projections 74 regularly spaced, ten 01" these projectionsbeing provided. This wheel has an interiorratchet 75 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 76 (see'Fig. 10) pivotally mounted on a pin 77 extending laterallyirom the carry wheel 41. A spring 78- serves to'hold thepawl normally projected into engagement with the ratchet so that when the carry wheel is rotated clockwise theratchet 73 and the shaft 28 will be moved therewith.

Normally seated in one of the notches is one end of a bellcranlr'?!) to the other end of which is pivotally connecteda locking finger 80 working between spaced'stop A spring 83 serves to hold this linger yieldingly in a predetermined position relative to the bell crank.

The parts are so located and proportioned that when one end of the bell crank is seated in a recess 4-2 the free end finger 80 is located close to but out the path of one of the projections T4.

Each of the shafts 28 has a gear 8 1 meshing with and adapted to rotate agear 85 secured between two number dials 86 and 87 which rotate as one body below two sight openings 88 and 89 respectively formed in the casing or housing 1.

sion troin 1 to 9 and 0, the nuiuerals on one oi the dials being arranged oppositely to the numerals on the other dial so that, as shown in Figure 1 the numeral 3 on one dial will be in line with the nu meral 6 on the other dial. the numerals it and 5 on the two dials will be in line. etc. Thus while the dials are rotating in one di ection the numerals appearing in the sight opening 88 will increase in value while. the numerals appearing in the opening'89 will. proportionately decrease in value.

It is to be understoodthat the-calculating machine includes any desired number of units. each unit being controlled bv the l'IG YS of one column. Furthermore each unit includes one rock shaft 13. one shaft 28. and the various parts mounted on and assopointed out. In Figure 5 the shafts 13 and 28 of four different units have been shown in. section and these same shafts have been As shown particularly in Figure 1 the numerals on these dials are arranged in proper numerical succesciated with these shafts as herei'nbe'tore" against the stop 82where. it will beheld as to prevent further rotation of the carry wheel. As the control wheel reaches this new position a spring 91 connected to the bell crank 79 will operate to swing the bell crank back into one of the recesses 42 and the same time withdraw theflngcr from in front of the engaged projection and allmv it to spring back against the stop 81 where it is reset.

\Vhat is claimed is j 1. In a calculating machine separate dial mechanisms each including a key actuated driving wheel, a floating wheel, a spring controlled by the driving wheel for storing energy, projections on opposite faces of the floating wheel in staggered relation, separate levers mounted for engagement with the projections on opposite sides of the floating wheel respectively, and separate cams directly engaging the levers to shift them successively into wheel holding positions.

2. In a calculating machine separate dial mechanisms each including a key actuated driving wheel, a floating wheel, a spring for storing energy during the rotation of the driving wheel relative to the floating wheel, projections on opposite faces of the floating wheel in staggeredrelation, separate leversmounted for movement about a common axis for engagement with the projections on the respective sides of the wheel, and key operated means for tilting the levers in properly timed relation to successively engage and release the projections on the respective sides of the floating wheel.

3. in a calculating machine carrying mechanisms each including a driving wheel, a floating wheel, a ca ry wheel, a spring connection between the carry wheel and the driving wheel for storing energy during the movement of the driving wheel relative to the. floating wheel, a spring connection between the carry wheel and the floating wheel working in opposition to the first mentioned connection, separate levers, projections on opposite sides of the floating wheel and staggered for successive engagement by the respective levers, a key actuated means for successively shifting said levers in properly timed relation to engage and release the projections on the respective sides of the floating wheel, and means released by the depression of a key for en gaging the carry wheel to hold it against rotation until the key is returned to normal position.

l. In a calculating machine carrying mechanisms each including a shaft, a driv ing wheel on the'shaft for receiving motion from the shaft of an adjoining carrying mechanism, a control wheel secured to the shaft and having spaced projections, a carry wheel having spaced recesses, a driving connection between the carry'wheel and the control wheel, means controlled by the carry wheel for automatically stopping. the control wheel on the completion of a predetermined movement thereof, a floating wheel, a spring connection between the carry wheel and the drive wheel, a spring connection between the carry wheel and the floating wheel, and separate, successively operating, rigid pallets cooperating with opposed faces respectively of the floating .wheel for in termittently releasing said wheel, the said spring connections working in opposition to each other.

5. In a calculating machine the combination with carrying mechanisms each including a carry wheel, a floating wheel, a driving wheel, and means for actuating the same, of a control wheel, a shaft operated thereby, pawl and ratchet mechanism transmitting motion from the carry wheel to the control wheel, a member normally engaging and shiftable by the carry wheel, projections on the control wheel, and means operated by said member for engagement with the projections successively to insure a step by step rotation of the control wheel and the shaft and to limit each rotation of said wheel and shaft to a predetermined degree.

6. In a calculating machine a key operated shaft, a dial unit including an escapement mechanism having a carry wheel, a stop for the carry wheel, cooperating means on the stop and shaft for holding the stop normally disengaged from the carry wheel, and means for automatically shifting the stop into engagement with the carry wheel when the shaft is actuated by a key.

'2'. In a calculating machine, separate dial mechanisms, each including a key actuated driving wheel, a floating wheel, means controlled by the driving wheel for storing energy, separate series of projections on the floating wheel, separate levers mounted for engagement with the respective series of projections on the floating wheel, and separate cams directly engaging the levers to shift them successively into the wheel holding positions. I

8. In a calculating machine, separate dial mechanisms each including a key actuated driving wheel, a floating wheel, means for storing energy during the rotation of the driving wheel relative to the floating wheel, separate series of projections on the floating wheel, separate levers mounted for movement about a common axis for engagement with the projections of the respective series, key operated means for tilting the levers in properly timed relation to successively engage and release the projections of the respective series.

9. In a calculating machine a control wheel, projections thereon, a carry wheel having peripheral recesses, means for operating the carry Wheel, means for tran mitting motion from the carry Wheel to the control Wheel a hell crank normally engaged in one of the recesses, a locking linger yieldingly carried by the bell crank and movable thereby to position between the projections to prevent overthrowing of the control Wheel, and stop device cooperating with the finger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

JAMES F. MAYS. 

